EuroBirdwatch is Europe’s largest public birdwatching event, celebrated annually by Birdlife partners around the continent to raise awareness on issues related to bird migration. Moreover, it aims to promote efforts to save threatened bird species and their habitats.

Perhaps the most exciting species we came across at the reserve was the Yellow-browed Warbler. This little bird is a very rare migrant and this was only the fourth one to be seen this year

This year, as part of the activities taking place in Malta, Falko, the youth section of Birdlife Malta, accepted a challenge to try and see (or hear) 50 different bird species in a single day of birdwatching.

Our aim was to show that although Malta is a small island it is rich in diversity and hosts an important variety of habitats that provide food and shelter for birds migrating to Africa at this time of year.

To our knowledge, no one in Malta had ever attempted this kind of ‘bird race’ against the clock. As keen birdwatchers, with two qualified bird ringers among us, we had done our research and knew what birds we could expect. But by the end of the day we would learn that birdwatching can be full of surprises...

Before dawn on Sunday, October 6, Falko leaders Martin Austad, Anne-Marie Austad, Nicholas Galea, Timothy Micallef and myself set off on our quest.

We woke up at 5am to begin our journey. Martin drove us eagerly to Foresta 2000, hopeful of spotting a Nightjar, but luck was really not on our side. The clouds were getting thicker, and the sky looked dark and heavy. We knew it would rain very soon.

So we walked through the trees with our fingers crossed that the weather would not let us down just yet. Feeling quite alert and walking behind the group I caught a glimpse of two creatures launching themselves into the air from the top of a telegraph pole as the group ahead of me walked past it.

I quickly told them to look to their left to see two kestrels flying over the valley below Marfa Ridge. Shortly after, we saw another kestrel hunting for its breakfast, deftly flapping its wings to hover impossibly in place above the ground, waiting for the right moment before dropping down on its prey – probably a shrew or a mouse.

An orchestra of sounds was coming out of the woods. Among the birds we heard were Robins (new autumn arrivals), Barn Swallows, Sardinian Warblers and Cetti’s Warblers, and Spanish Sparrows.

At around 8am we made our way to the Għadira wetland, a short distance from the Foresta 2000, which overlooks the reserve’s lagoons and islands. We had only seen 12 species so far and were counting on Għadira to raise our numbers. But to our dismay, thunder, lightning and rain began to slow us down.

We spotted the breeding birds of the wetland, the Moorhen and Little Ringed Plover, as well as a few visitors including Ruff, Dunlin, Wood Sandpiper and Little Stint. We also saw a brightly coloured Kingfisher whiz past the hide.

Timothy pointed out the elegant collared doves that crossed over the reserve from time to time. But we were still only on 18 species and the weather was getting rapidly worse. We got soaked as we ran into the car to race to our next stop, Is-Simar nature reserve in Xemxija.

It was a close call when Martin skidded close to a roundabout because of some oil runoff that was carried by rainwater. We were shaken by this near accident, and the continuing rain was dampening our spirits. Up till now, everything seemed to be working against us reaching our target.

However, once we reached Is-Simar, things started to look a little brighter. Anne was first to find a snipe feasting on the insects and other invertebrates that dwell in the sediments in the shallow water of the lake. Then we followed the tree-dotted trail that led us into a different hide.

From there we discovered a Grey Heron hiding among the reeds and a Common Teal cleaning its feathers on top of a raft. Shortly after we were surprised by a Great Egret (or Great White Egret). We could see very clearly the sheer contrast in size between the Great Egret and the Little Egret, which by chance were standing close together, one the miniature version of the other.

A few minutes later, Nick sighted a Sparrowhawk and Bee-eaters flying above Miżieb, and when we moved to yet another hide I found a Reed Warbler perched very close to the window right in front of me as I sat down. I called the others to see it because the reed warbler is quite a difficult species to encounter.

These new sightings lifted our hopes up, and the weather was looking more promising by the minute. Perhaps the most exciting species we came across at the reserve was the Yellow-browed Warbler. This little bird is a very rare migrant and this was only the fourth one to be seen this year.

Another bird we saw which is worth mentioning is the Squacco Heron. The heron had been found injured by a member of the public, but the injuries were not life-threatening and Birdlife had managed to rehabilitate it and release it into the reserve. But because it was a released bird that hadn’t come to the reserve of its own accord we couldn’t count it towards our magic 50.

Even so, by the end of our visit at Is-Simar we managed to bring the count up to 39 species, and making 50 by the end of the day now seemed like a real possibility.

We again jumped into the car and drove to our fourth stop of the day in Qawra for some sea-watching. We scanned the shoreline using a telescope and managed to find two Marsh Harriers coming onto the island, along with two Black-headed Gulls.

We also recognised a Skylark closer to our watch point – the first of these birds we had seen this season, arriving from the north to escape the cold of winter.

Although we didn’t see any of our target species, such as Sandwich Terns over the tuna pens just offshore, or Shearwaters that breed on the nearby cliffs at Rdum tal-Madonna, the afternoon looked more encouraging as the storm faded away.

Now it was our tummies that were rumbling, so we grabbed a bite to eat before heading down to Chadwick Lakes. A rewarding dessert followed lunch. Although we almost dropped our ice creams when we saw seven Grey Herons gathering over Qawra.

We only made a brief stop at Chadwick Lakes where we found one Redstart, one House Martin and a Honey Buzzard. Three more species and a little bit closer to our goal.

Leaving the lakes behind, we drove through Fiddien at around 3pm, the valley notably full of Common Kestrels, hunting over the fields or perching in the trees.

We took a moment to enjoy the sight, but not too long – we had already seen Kestrels and we still needed five more species, and as we went on it was getting more difficult to find those last birds.

We made it to our next destination, Miġra l-Ferħa, with 48 species, having spotted en route Malta’s national bird, the Blue Rock Thrush, along with the Wheatear and Whinchat.

Down at Miġra we heard the Spectacled Warbler, which favours rocky garigue environments. We were within touching distance of the magic number! So at 4.30pm we sped up to Buskett to get to the finish line. We were feeling quite sleepy after 11 hours of birdwatching but that was not going to stop us!

Once we got to Buskett we immediately saw the Hobby and Marsh Harrier, but these were not new species. Each of us scanned the sky from the woodland valley below to Laferla Cross and round to the radar dome at the top of Dingli Cliffs, searching for the last bird! And after a tense period of waiting, it appeared – a Peregrine Falcon, or Bies in Maltese.

Our aim was to show that although Malta is a small island it is rich in diversity and hosts an important variety of habitats that provide food and shelter for birds migrating to Africa at this time of year

We couldn’t believe it. After nearly 12 hours we had made it: 50 different bird species in a single day, and the last one, which, of course, felt like the most important, was a Maltese Falcon – a bird which is the emblem of these islands and lends its iconic image to the Falko logo. This made the day even more special.

We were all very happy with the species we’d managed to uncover in the different habitats we had visited all over the island. And we are confident that next year we can increase the number of participants and surpass the benchmark of 50 species we have now set.

That will be next year’s challenge and we hope to encourage more people to take it up. We’re sure it can be done, especially with the right weather conditions and in good company!

The complete list of species as seen on the day

1. Robin
2. Cetti’s Warbler
3. Sardinian Warbler
4. Spanish Sparrow
5. Common Kestrel
6. Kingfisher
7. Little Egret
8. Grey Heron
9. Coot
10. Swallow
11. Starling
12. Yellow-legged gull
13. Moorhen
14. Little Ringed Plover
15. Little Stint
16. Ruff
17. Wood sandpiper
18. Dunlin
19. Ringed Plover
20. Collared Dove
21. Garden Warbler
22. Snipe
23. Little Grebe
24. Common Teal
25. Great Egret
26. Water Rail
27. Blackcap
28. Reed Warbler
29. Black-necked Grebe
30. Bee-eater
31. Sparrowhawk
32. Zitting Cisticola
33. Grey Wagtail
34. Willow Warbler
35. Chiffchaff
36. Yellow-browed Warbler
37. Marsh Harrier
38. Skylark
39. Black-headed gull
40. Redstart
41. Honey Buzzard
42. House Martin
43. Tree Sparrow
44. Northern Wheatear
45. Blue Rock Thrush
46. Whinchat
47. Stonechat
48. Spectacled Warbler
49. Hobby
50. Peregrine Falcon

Some information about the sites visited during the day

Għadira Nature Reserve

• An area of ecological importance because it features two rare habtats: a wetland and a saltmarsh;

• Declared a bird sanctuary in 1978;

• It is also a Ramsar site and a Natura 2000 site;

• Hosts a variety of flora and fauna which are protected, rare or endangered such as the Killifish.

Is-Simar Nature Reserve

• The site was neglected and used more as a dump until the 1980s;

• Birdlife converted the degraded marsh into a mosaic of habitats;

• These habitats include reed beds, open pools and canals, and an olive grove;

• Attract many secretive aquatic species, such as herons, grebes, rails and kingfishers;

• Fully protected bird sanctuary, Ramsar site and Natura 2000 site.

Foresta 2000

• A Birdlife project to restore an area of natural habitat into woodland;

• Re-establishes ecological diversity;

• Reinforces the 500-metre no-hunting buffer zone around Għadira Nature Reserve.

Buskett

• A semi-natural woodland;

• Remnant Holm Oak forest;

• An important valley system with perennial springs and riparian communities;

• A roosting ground for migrating raptors such as falcons, harriers and buzzards;

• Designated as an Area of Ecological Importance as well as a Site of Scientific Importance.

Mtaħleb

• Consists of two valleys and karst landscape carved by water;

• Characterised by maquis, springs and riparian ecosystems;

• Protected since 1996, it is a Natura 2000 site and a nature reserve.

What’s next for Falko?

A trip to Comino is planned to take place on Saturday, and the event is open to anyone between the ages of 13 and 25 interested in having a fun-filled day exploring the nature, wildlife, and of course, birds, that this island reserve has to offer at this time of year.

For more information about the activities organised by Falko contact one of our leaders via falkoblm@gmail.com or join the Birdlife Malta Facebook group.